EverestNews.com interview with Swee Chiow, a member of
the Singapore 98 Everest Expedition, who climbed Everest
from the South Side in Spring 1998. Swee Chiow on
5/19/98 reached the South Summit before turning around
along with the 50 plus other climbers that were the
first group to attempt the summit from the South Side in
1998. Six days later he made a second successful attempt
and reached the Summit on 5/25/98 with 11 other climbers
including five others from his team. This year 42
climbers reached the summit from the South Side of
Everest. Two climbers reached the summit two times each
for a total of 44 summits from the South Side so far in
1998.

(The News Update is after the
Interview)

EverestNews.com Interview
with Everest Swee Chiow

Q. [EverestNews.com] First
can you give us some background on yourself...

A. [Swee Chiow] I am a
systems (software) analyst in Singapore Airlines. I was never a climber during
school days. It was only when I started working in 1988, I started to trek and
then slowly progressed to mountaineering. By the way, my hometown is Port
Dickson - the place where Joe Simpson spent some of his childhood. Perhaps
he'll contact me if he reads this. I would be so honored to hear from a
legend.

A. [Swee Chiow] My first
"encounter" with Everest was during my first trip to Nepal in 1989. Since
then, its become my dream to climb it. It was just a dream until 1994, when
our team leader David made a nation wide call for climbers to join the team, I
knew my dream could be coming true.

Q. [EverestNews.com] Describe
summit day for us?

A. [Swee Chiow] It was the
hardest endurance test I ever put myself through. The summit ridge from South
Summit onwards was the most dangerous. The wind was howling, my hands were
painful and going numb. Thanks to my Sherpa Nawang who gave me a hand warmer.
That helped a lot. But I was very dehydrated and my movement was becoming very
slow. The Hillary Step took a lot of energy out of me. Beyond that, the false
summits seemed to go on forever - one
cornice after another. When I finally saw my partner Edwin & the Sherpas on
the summit, it didn't register to me that I was nearing the highest summit in
the world. But when I stepped on the summit, tears rolled down my face. It was
6.30am. I have never expected to be there so fast.

Q. [EverestNews.com] Describe
the descent from the summit ?

A. [Swee Chiow] It was a
nightmare. My vision was blurred due to the cold wind and the sun. I didn't
wear my goggles on the way up after sunrise on South Summit. I was even slower
descending to the South Summit. My crampons got entangled in the old ropes on
Hillary Step. On the 1st summit attempt, we went down the steep face from
Balcony down to C4 without any rope. But this time, we were just too tired and
again, thanks to our 4 Sherpas, they used their ice axes as temporary anchors
to pay out the rope and we used it to guide our descent on some tricky
sections. On reaching C4, the Sherpas were eager to go further down. So, they
broke camp. By the time we got into C2, it was past 6pm and I have never been
so exhausted in my life. We had been on the move for more than 20 hours. I
felt as if I was going to drop dead anytime.

Q. [EverestNews.com] Other
climbers are telling us that Bernardo Guarachi was one of the strongest
climbers on Everest. Who do you think were the strongest climbers (including
Sherpa) this year on the South side?

A. [Swee Chiow] Bernardo is a
superman. He moves like the Sherpas. He's the most courteous guy I've ever
met. I saw him sitting outside his tent alone everyday, looking at the
mountains. That's how he sat out the bad weather. His inner strength and
patience shows. His Makalu experience and this time, his camera failed him on
the summit, made me feel very sympathetic towards him.

Q. [EverestNews.com] Will you
be back next year?

A. [Swee Chiow] Wow, I like
the way you put it - so simple ! None of us in Singapore (at least not me) can
afford the money. The team fund-raised, trained and planned for 4 years for
this project. That's how hard it is for us. But then, if someone is willing to
sponsor, why not ?

Q. [EverestNews.com] Will you
consider the North side of Everest in the future?

A. [Swee Chiow] I think the
North side holds more magic and mystery for me - being the original route for
the pioneers. Their struggle and drama high up never fail to strike a cord in
me every time I read it again and again. I saw Everest from afar at Old Tingri
last year on the Cho Oyu trip. It was simply awesome. My only regret on that
trip is that we didn't go to Rongbuk.

A. [Swee Chiow] I don't
consider myself a very technical or skilful climber. My motivation comes from
my curiosity that always asks: "Can I do it ? Can I do it faster ? Can I go
higher ?" I am kind of a fanatic. Once I am hooked on an idea, it's hard to
put it down. In addition, mountains are beautiful, they've got so many moods
and faces.

Q. [EverestNews.com] What's
Next ?

A. [Swee Chiow] The next step
after Everest - I slept at C3 (7300m) on Everest without oxygen & I felt ok.
It would be exciting to find out if I can do a "low & easy" 8000er without
oxygen. That would be the next logical test of my climbing limit. Perhaps
Xixabangma or G2. Pushing my limit a little further each time and
self-discovery is very exciting for me. It keeps me going I guess.

Q. [EverestNews.com] David
...

A. [Swee Chiow] On David -
He's the mastermind behind this 4-year project. Without him, this whole
Everest business would not have been possible. So, we all owe our success to
him.

Thanks much.

Swee Chiow

EverestNews.com has a feeling
you will hear about Swee Chiow back on a 8000 meter peak in the future.